Full Time

KEY PURPOSE

Arduaine needs a capable, motivated, and knowledgeable First Gardener to work closely with the Head Gardener and help lead a small, dedicated team of gardeners and volunteers in an exciting period of redevelopment and restoration for this garden and nationally important plant collection.

CONTEXT

Arduaine Garden was established in 1898 by Ethel and James Arthur Campbell and is renowned for its nationally important collection of Rhododendron species, many of which were collected at the beginning of the last century. Arduaine grows a broad range of plants from all around the world including many tender plants which thrive in the garden’s mild climate, influenced by warm Atlantic currents. The garden covers 20 acres, divided into two main areas, a semi formal garden of shrub beds, mixed borders, lawns and ponds and an informal woodland garden.
In 1971 the garden was acquired by nurserymen, Edmund and Harry Wright. The brothers greatly improved the infrastructure of the garden and added to the existing Rhododendron collection before donating the garden to the National Trust for Scotland in 1992.
The garden regularly attracts 15000 visitors a year, though it is temporarily closed to facilitate the completion of the Shelterbelt Restoration project and additional arboricultural work relating to the project.
The Shelterbelt Restoration Project at Arduaine is in its final year and 1000 mature Japanese Larch have been removed after an outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum. The felling stage is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 and site preparation is already underway for the restoration of the garden shelterbelt, after which the garden will be intensively redeveloped and replanted to improve Arduaine’s nationally important collection of Rhododendron’s and diverse botanical collection.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
1. Ensuring the conservation and practical maintenance of the garden and policies – whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or personal participation – in terms of:
a. Practical horticulture (e.g. including managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous, pond plants and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping and path care; soft landscaping and planting preparation; glasshouse care and plant propagation);
b. Garden Restoration/ Development (e.g planting and establishing newly introduced trees, shrubs and herbaceous; contributing to planning and design of new plantings and hard landscaping; processing of timber with training to use garden sawmill; use of pesticides to control regen for establishment of new plantings; use of chainsaw to process logs, stumps and brash for replanting.
c. Plantsmanship (e.g. the identification, knowledge and understanding of this high calibre plant collection, including recording [using Iris database], and labelling of individual plants and recognized collections);
d. Interpretation (e.g. through the development and delivery of events such as introductory talks, presentations, guided tours or practical demonstrations and workshops, garden trails, digital media and contribution to guide-books or leaflets) to include the impact of various forms of Phytophthora at the property.
2. Ensuring an appropriate management regime of the garden and policies that includes the management of:
a. Staff, Apprentice and volunteers (e.g. assisting in recruitment, induction, direction, development, performance management) such that they are fully equipped, organised and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards;
b. health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff/volunteers;
c. machinery and equipment (e.g. ensuring timely and appropriate repairs, purchases and servicing) and its use (e.g. training, risk assessments and HAVS logs);
d. recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat & pesticide-use;

e. customer service and care from garden staff/volunteers, and in the broader sense of facilities and “visiting experience”, to ensure that the properties’ reputation for excellence is maintained and enhanced;
f. administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently;

3. Supporting the Head Gardener Operations manager & Visitor services manager strategically and practically with the operation of the property.

JOB PURPOSE

This job exists in order to manage and develop Mar Lodge’s functions business, corporate/private hire and sporting client support. To ensure income opportunities are maximised in the context of consistently high standards of customer care and lodge presentation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The key purposes of the job will be met by:
• Developing and managing relationships with potential and existing corporate and private hire clients, such that Mar Lodge continually develops and maintains its status as a ‘destination’ venue, renowned for its excellence of customer service.
• Leading teams which include members of other Mar Lodge departments and outside contractors such that there is absolute clarity of objectives, tasks and standards; and ensure their delivery towards a collective goal.
• Developing and managing the functions business to increase income as part of the property’s drive for sustainability and help raise the profile of the work of the Trust at Mar Lodge in its wider context.
• Managing allocated budgets to ensure that income targets are met (or exceeded) and that expenditure is prudent and ‘value for money’
• Managing equipment and supplies (such as banqueting furniture, catering equipment and supplies) to ensure the operational efficacy of the Lodge.
• Working within Health & Safety regime to ensure the H&S of staff/volunteers, clients and visitors within the context of the Trust’s “Safe System of Work” regime.
• Personally participating in functions preparation and delivery (preparation for and front-of-house, corporate/private hire events/sporting clients)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Experience

Essential
• Practical, demonstrable experience of hospitality/catering/events development and management.
• Demonstrable experience of selling and promoting hospitality/catering/events in a competitive marketplace.
• Practical experience of staff management or supervision.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and would be a successful salesperson in a competitive marketplace.
• Competent IT skills.
• Full current driving licence for driving in the UK.

Desirable
• Recognised Higher Education level qualification in catering/hospitality/marketing or events management.
• Personal licence holder (or be willing to train)
• Current First aid certification (or be willing to train and use)
• Current food hygiene certification (or be willing to train)

JOB PURPOSE

The role is responsible for the development and operational delivery of all aspects of the visitor experience at Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve (NNR.) Leading the teams responsible for holiday cottages, events, functions, learning experiences, and countryside visitor services, the role ensures consistent high standards of visitor service are delivered across the estate. The role will also be responsible for project management of major new visitor experience initiatives in the wider estate. In turn, this will help ensure that the property is financially sustainable. As a key member of the management team at Mar Lodge Estate NNR the role will work with the team to develop and deliver a visitor experience strategy, promoting good communication across the property and integrated service provision.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Staff and volunteers – (recruitment, induction, development, motivation, performance management) such that they are fully equipped and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards and that staffing budgets are adhered to.
• Instil a Health & Safety culture across the property, ensuring the team work within the property’s ‘Safe System of Work’ to reduce risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees and visitors.
• Budgets – (setting, phasing, monitoring, reporting, pro-active and re-active adjustments together with the Operations Manager) to ensure that the finances are sustainable within the context of the wider property budgets.
• Project lead for major visitor service initiatives including capital projects at Linn of Dee (£4 million,) Mar Lodge and Stables, Derry Lodge, and learning experience provision (subject to Board approval).
• Create a culture of ‘exceptional service, every time’.
• Driving the visitor experience at Mar Lodge Estate NNR to achieve its financial targets, maximising income and profitability, using the Trust’s procedures and instructions; striving to be efficient and ensure cost effectiveness in all aspects of the role.
• Ensure high standards of presentation across the property.
• Taking responsibility for opening and closing and security of buildings as well as emergency procedure implementation, duty management and providing relief cover as required.

Department specific – Visitor Services

• Managing visitor-related buildings and facilities (e.g. Linn of Dee facilities, Mar Lodge Holiday Apartments, Function Rooms, learning provision etc.)
• Ensuring that the longevity of the Trust’s buildings and fittings are maximised through appropriate maintenance and/or replacement regimes.
• To ensure that the property meets statutory and Trust requirements of Health and Safety, Food Safety and Environmental legislations and procedures including waste disposal.
• Adhering to the sale of alcohol legislation, being a Premises Manager, if required.

JOB PURPOSE

We are looking for someone with some experience of countryside management to join our close-knit team, assisting with practical countryside tasks, property management and visitor liaison. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to gain skills, knowledge, and experience to help you further you career as a countryside ranger.
You will work on your own and with other staff and volunteers, on a variety of practical conservation tasks to help us achieve the high presentation and habitat management standards expected of a National Nature Reserve.
You will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the St Abb’s ranger service through income generated at pay-for events, memberships and donations inspired by our work, growing our capacity through volunteers and cost-effective use of resources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

 Be an enthusiastic and effective part of the ranger service, contributing to the smooth operation and ecological enhancement of St Abb’s Head NNR.
 Carry out regular site monitoring checks and record keeping, helping us to evaluate performance and plan our conservation activities, including habitat and species surveys, foot path condition checks, weather gauge observations and people counter figures.
 Complete practical conservation tasks, including habitat management (gorse removal), woodland management, path maintenance and fence repairs, litter clearance and property patrols.
 Seek to minimize our environmental impact through sustainable working practices and sensitive use of power, equipment, transport, and other resources.
 Ecological monitoring to include sea bird counts, other surveys and set mapping and a range of other biological recording
 Lead Seal events throughout November and December, showing visitors colonies through telescopes and binoculars, sharing stories of the Grey Seals ecology and life cycles.

 Welcome customers out on the reserve in a friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable manner, answering queries and providing information about the property, facilities, and the local area.
 Contribute to the development and delivery of products that bring alive our stories, including on-site displays, self-guided trails, signage, guided walks, talks or other hands-on activities.
 Support a strong health & safety culture, complying with the property’s ‘Safe System of Work’, risk management and emergency procedures, to safeguard yourself, colleagues, and the public.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To assist the Operations Manager with the smooth running of Newhailes, Inveresk and Malleny as well as non-visited properties in the Edinburgh cluster. This includes, but not limited to, general administration, compliance and health and safety tasks in support of Newhailes operations and demands a high level of customer service, organisational skills and the ability to use your initiative with an attention to detail essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administrative support to the Operations Manager and other key departments as required
• File management (filing, scanning, maintenance of regional drive, archiving).
• Managing office petty cash, receipts and claims.
• Managing postage.
• Assisting property staff with ordering and system queries as required.
• Providing the first point of contact at Newhailes and ensuring that communications are answered, forwarded and recorded effectively and in a timely fashion
• Organising meetings, circulating advance papers, taking and distributing minutes and monitoring action points required of staff
• Processing financial transactions (e.g. cash handling, data entry, purchase ordering, and expense claims) on a regular basis using an IT-based finance package
• Share in the common responsibility of implementing the Trust’s “Health & Safety Policy”, being mindful at all times of the health and safety of self, staff, volunteers, and visitors
• Attendance at meetings with the Operations Manager and other activity managers to openly discuss ideas, problems and solutions to the delivery of improved visitor experience at the property.
• Taking and processing educational/group bookings and liaising with relevant departments to ensure the smoothing running of each
• Management of the property diary and preparation and distribution of the weekly programme as well as other reports as required
• Maintaining key safe and security/access arrangements for staff and visitors.
• Acting as “Fire Warden” for regular testing and activations and providing training for property staff.
• Booking and supervision of reactive and planned maintenance contractors
• Placing orders and completing necessary documentation as and when required
• Ensuring H&S and GDPR compliance at Newhailes, Inveresk and Malleny as well as the non visited and residential let properties in the cluster.
• Provide an excellent level of customer service to all external and internal customers.
• Organising and overseeing refuse collection, and recycling arrangements.
• As and when required act as Duty manager in support of Operations Manager and other activity managers